Canadian leaders to attend international summit on 21st century teaching and leadership in education

OTTAWA, March 13, 2012 /CNW/ - Education ministers and national teacher union leaders - including the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) - from 24 countries and regions with high performing and rapidly improving educational systems are in New York City for the second annual International Summit on the Teaching Profession, March 14-15.

Focusing on the theme "Preparing Teachers and Developing School Leaders for the 21^st Century", the summit will set the stage for high-level discussions on three topics: developing school leaders, preparing teachers for the delivery of 21^st century skills, and preparing teachers to work and succeed where they are most needed.

"CTF aims to advance cooperative work, promote the understanding of the value of working together and clarify support for and goals of public education," says CTF President Paul Taillefer who will be attending along with CTF Secretary General Calvin Fraser. "There is broad use of the term '21^st century skills' and little clarification of what that means in terms of expectations for the teaching profession. Education has changed and is evolving - and as key partners, teachers want a say in its evolution, architecture and transformation."

The two-day event is hosted by Education International (EI), the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Asia Society, the US Secretary of Education, the National Education Association (NEA), and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT), and by the US-based partners, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS), the Council of Chief State School Officers (CCSSO) and WNET New York Public Media.

Other delegations are coming from Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Iceland, Indonesia, Japan, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the People's Republic of China, Poland, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

An alliance of 15 Member organizations and one Affiliate Member representing nearly 200,000 teachers across the country, the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) is a member of the international body of teachers, Education International (EI).

Spokesperson: CTF President Paul Taillefer
Contact: Francine Filion, CTF Communications Director, 613-899-4247 (cell)